31|08|2011

In its 35th year in business Dub Vendor in Clapham
is to close its doors for the last time. During the London
riots the shop next door was burnt down, and as a result Dub
Vendor suffered some flood damage to its basement. The decision to
close on 10 September however, is not solely down to the recent
damage to the store.

Dub Vendor, like most small record shops, says it has felt the
pressure of the shifting digital economies, and having a physical
store no longer seems feasible. Founder John MacGillivray told the
Independent: "The kids over here, it's nothing
new to them. Their perception is that it's their mum and dad's
music and it doesn't define them in the way it defined previous
generations… The music has moved in a different direction… In
Jamaica the music has moved away from where most people in the UK
would find it relevant to them. Our passion is in selling music,
not selling patties. We've got to get real."

Dub Vendor will continue to sell music online
through DubVendor.co.uk, which has been under the stewardship
of Lol Bell-Brown for just over a decade. Dub Vendor will be
celebrating its 35th birthday on 2 September at London Music
bar, with sets from the Dub Vendor All Stars (Papa Face, Oxman,
Supa Selecta C, Gaffa Blue, Russ Disciple, Warrior) and Vibes FM's
Roberto Allen.